Let Iran Grow Its Own Democracy

Published: August 3, 2006

Democracy is not a commercial product to be imported or bought like merchandise. Iranians remember with anger that in 1953 Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh was overthrown by a coup instigated by the C.I.A. Millions of dollars were spent and changed hands.

This injustice to the Iranian nation and the shortsighted policy of the United States were the major stimulus to the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Mr. Ganji's article provides valuable advice to American policy makers as well as information to historians. True democracy is an evolutionary force that ultimately succeeds from within and should not be polluted by outside intervention.

F. K. Nakhjavan
Philadelphia, Aug. 2, 2006

To the Editor:

I would like to echo Akbar Ganji's comments based on a personal experience.

Last year, I contacted a nongovernmental organization in Iran dedicated to helping women to see if I could work with it on some of its projects. The group was excited about having an Iranian-American contact.

A few months ago, I finally met the N.G.O.'s staff members in Iran and found that they no longer wanted to work with me. This was after the Bush administration's $75 million ''pledge'' to organize dissident groups.

They were worried that they would be accused of receiving money from the United States government.

The policies of this administration do not make any sense. As Iranian-Americans, we find our hands already tied in Iran because of the United States embargo. Now we can't do even charity work!

If a charity organization is afraid of being labeled an American agent, do you really think that any legitimate opposition group with support in Iran is going to taint itself by association with the United States?

I have lost hope of sound policies toward Iran from this administration. I am hoping that the next administration will have a different approach.